“Key to the Highway” is a blues song that has been recorded many times beginning in 1940. Of the versions I know, my favorite is the Little Walter one.
‘Key To The Highway’: Unlocking Bill Broonzy’s Classic Blues Song
Category: Music
Covers: Down on Me
“Down on Me” is best known for the 1967 version by Big Brother and the Holding Company with Janis Joplin. It’s a traditional song.
Warren Zevon would have been 75 today
Paul Simon’s first album turns 50
This is one of my favorite albums. I think it’s better than any of the Simon and Garfunkel records. It’s got a wide range of styles, it’s funny and serious, it has great acoustic guitar work on “Peace Like a River”. “Mother and Child Reunion” was an early rock usage of reggae style and musicians. The Rolling Stone article is excellent.
Trust – Elvis Costello
Trust was released on this date 41 years ago (1/23/81). I don’t know all of Elvis Costello’s albums but this is one of the best I am familiar with. The anger of his youth has been tempered by a more mature sound and a bigger variety of songs. “Clubland” may be my favorite Costello song.
Covers: When You’re Young and in Love
While we’re on the topic of Wanda Young of the Marvelettes, here’s a song that was one of their rare covers. She was the lead singer on their version of Van McCoy’s “When You’re Young and in Love” in 1967. The original version was by Ruby & the Romantics in 1964.
Wanda Young of the Marvelettes
A belated post about the death of Wanda Young of the Marvelettes. I personally preferred their rougher sound to the slicker sound of the Supremes. She was a great singer on some outstanding records.
Katherine Anderson, Co-Founder Of The Marvelettes, Dead At 79
Did the New York Times call Meat Loaf Mr. Loaf?
I saw Meat Loaf in the Broadway show Rockabye Hamlet – see my post on the show here:
Ronnie Spector
Ronnie Spector, lead singer of the Ronettes on many fine records in the 1960s died yesterday
Chris Bell’s “There Was a Light”
“There Was a Light” was written by Chris Bell. Demos were made when he was in Big Star and he recorded it solo after he left. I think that’s actually Alex Chilton on vocals on the demo and Big Star played the song live after Bell left. Bell’s birthday was yesterday. His solo work was released many years after his death on the excellent I Am the Cosmos. Here’s a Wikipedia article on it. I have the Rhino version.
Chris Bell stuff – Instagram post by an author of a book on him
Sad! 